Plan Your Day

Solar Stirling Engine Generator #2

Exhibit Code: GLE-214
Zone: Engineering Park
Location: James E. Gleason Hall (GLE/009) - Brinkman Lab
Time: All Day

Description:
This RIT student senior design project, a solar powered Stirling engine generator, can power small USB electronics such as a cellphone from the sun (or any other heat source). A Stirling engine is a heat engine that operates from a temperature differential developed between the hot and cold side of the engine. This temperature difference causes cyclic compression and expansion of the working fluid inside the engine, which causes a piston to move. Efficiency of a Stirling engine can outperform silicon based photovoltaics in most cases. In addition, although mechanically more complex than photovoltaics, Stirling cycle generators can use any heat source to produce electricity if necessary. Visitors will see our prototype Stirling engine generator running, and our poser board detailing our design of the engine. The visitor could also charge a USB device from our solar Stirling engine generator.

Exhibitors:
Philip Glasser, Michael Scionti, Bryan Abbott, William Tierney, Alan Raisanen